Jalsa Salana, the United Kingdom’s largest Muslim gathering, took place this weekend with significantly increased security measures and coordinated support from police and emergency services. The event, organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, drew approximately 50,000 attendees from more than 100 countries to a temporary site in Hampshire. The expanded security presence reflected broader concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.
The decision to proceed with the event came despite recent security incidents affecting other Islamic gatherings. Last month, another major Islamic convention was forced to close early following the arrest of 12 individuals, including three on suspicion of conspiracy to murder in connection with an alleged far-right threat. Despite these circumstances, leadership of the Ahmadiyya community stated they had no hesitation about moving forward with their 60th annual convention.
Rafiq Hayat, head of the UK chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, contextualized the current climate within the community’s longer history in Britain. The organization has been established in the country for over a century, having founded itself in 1913 and constructed one of London’s first purpose-built mosques in 1926. Hayat noted the community had previously faced opposition from far-right movements and cited his own experience with various extremist groups spanning decades.
Recent data indicates the scale of anti-Muslim sentiment, with statistics showing one mosque is attacked approximately every five days in Britain, while anti-Muslim hate crimes in England and Wales increased by 19% in the year ending March 2025. The Ahmadiyya community has also faced persecution from other sources, including extremist Muslims both internationally and within Britain. Hayat emphasized that the community’s response to threats involves increased public engagement and visibility rather than withdrawal, encouraging Muslims to openly practice their faith and interact with people of different backgrounds and beliefs.
The convention featured religious observances, speeches from community leadership including the global leader Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, and attendance from elected officials and religious figures from various faiths. Organizers characterized the event as an opportunity to address misconceptions about Islam through direct human interaction and community building across faith lines and ethnic backgrounds.
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